The San Jose Way

Whenever I research the latest foreclosure and distressed property statistics, the sheer number of Americans facing the stress of losing their homes amazes me. It is my goal to help as many homeowners I can either stay in their homes or relieve the burden of their mortgages. Knowing that there ar...

Here's a great opportunity to buy a fixer-upper and roll the costs to make it more energy efficient into the morgage without having to qualify on the higher amount. It's called an FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Here is the description from the HUD web site: "EEMs recognize that reduced util...

If you're looking to buy a home, you've probably wondered which is most important for your monthly payment: shaving a few bucks off the purchase price or getting the lowest possible interest rate. I've uploaded a one-page analysis to answer that question. The bottom line is that small differences...

The California Franchise Tax Board is accepting requests from taxpayers who have short sold their home and do not have enough funds in escrow accounts to pay the recorded state tax lien in full. Taxpayers in this situation may apply for a Partial Release of Lien, which releases a specific piece o...

As the industry's premier lifestyle real estate brand, we at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate take pride in providing our consumers with tools and information to help cultivate their passion for their homes- and the lives they live in and around them. When looking for a new home, it is custom...

Assistance is often available to help homeowners in default on their mortgages keep their home, however many fail to take advantage of what is available because of misinformation. Too often when a troubled homeowner finally does contact their lender it is too late. Some homeowners believe, incorr...

A gentleman showed up on my home doorstep the other night offering me a discount if I signed up right then for his quarterly pest control service. He was "doing work for a neighbor" and offered me a discount for not having to "travel back and forth to the office." Any time someone shows up like t...

A good article recently appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle with tips on preparing a home for sale. I may keep a copy with me for when I talk with sellers. It's a guarantee that they will ask what they can do to get a better price for the property. Should we remodel the kitchen? What about th...

The June 2011 edition of my Santa Clara County Real Estate Market Trends Report covering San Jose and surrounding communities is now available. This report covers the state of the real estate market thru May 2011, and is a wealth of practical and statistical information about the current state of...

The results of a recent survey published by Move, Inc. indicate that real estate investors are expected to be more active in their local markets by a three-to-one margin compared with typical home buyers over the next 24 months. Almost two-thirds (62%) of investors said they're paying more attent...